{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78468"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78468/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5530/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5530/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM5530","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM5529","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78468","accessionNumber":"M.186-1978","objectType":"Baluster","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Cast iron baluster in the form of stylised foliage. Using cast iron allowed elaborate balustrades like this one to be made easily and inexpensively.<br><br><b>Style</b><br>With its sinuous curves and stylised leaves, this baluster reflects the influence of the International Art Nouveau style. This style was popular with both craftsmen and designers of ironwork because its extravagantly sinuous forms and vegetal ornament were well suited to both wrought and cast iron. However, British ironworkers were much more restrained in their use of the Art Nouveau style than continental designers such as Horta (1861-1947), Guimard (1867-1942) and Gaudi (1852-1926) who all produced flamboyant architectural ironwork.<br><br><b>Copyright</b><br>Cast objects could easily be copied by taking moulds. Various Acts of Parliament in the late18th century sought to provide copyright protection to designers and from then on these Acts were periodically improved and amended. The markings on this baluster, No. 113 and 314890, refer to the Registered Design Number of this object. In 1883 the Patents, Designs and Trade marks Act, under which this object was registered, amalgamated the categories into which designs had previously been divided and registered both ornamental and non-ornamental designs in a single numerical series, extending the copyright protection to 5 years.","physicalDescription":"Baluster made of cast iron with ornamental sinous curves and stylised leaves. Stamped with the mark No. 113; RD No. 314890.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Falkirk Iron Company Ltd.","id":"AUTH338404"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cast iron","id":"AAT11004"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast iron","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"Ironwork","id":"THES251837"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM5530","2006AM5529"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"123 (VA)","id":"THES49217"},"free":"","case":"WE","shelf":"","box":"20"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Baluster","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Falkirk","id":"x34752"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1898","earliest":"1898-01-01","latest":"1898-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by John S. M. Scott","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"83","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 29/06/1999 by LH","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Impressed 'No. 113' and Rd.No. '314890'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made by The Falkirk Iron Company, Falkirk","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cast iron baluster with ornamental curves and leaves, Falkirk, ca. 1898","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Campbell, Marian. <u>An Introduction to Ironwork</u>. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1985. 48 p., ill. ISBN 0112904157","id":"AUTH316061"},"details":"fig.46(c)","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nCast iron allowed elaborate, sculptured balustrades to be made easily and inexpensively using cast sections like this one. However, cast objects were very easy to copy by taking moulds from them, so registration helped to protect the investment of the firm who had made the original model.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"BALUSTER\r\nCast iron\r\nEngland; 1898\r\nStamped No. 113; RD No. 314890\r\n\r\nThe sinuous curves and stylised leaves reflect the influence of international Art Nouveau\r\n\r\nGift of J.S.M. Scott Esq.\r\nMuseum No. M.186-1978","date":{"text":"07/1994","earliest":"1994-07-01","latest":"1994-07-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.186-1978"],"accessionNumberNum":"186","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1978,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LV7260"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}